Mumbai, July 25: In significant developments in the world of sports and defense, Viswanathan Anand has been appointed as the interim President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), while the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested its long-range surface-to-air missile, ‘Kush’.
Anand, a five-time World Chess Champion, took on the role on July 24 following the imposition of European Union sanctions on the current FIDE President, Arkady Dvorkovich. According to FIDE’s regulations, the Deputy President assumes the role of interim President when the current President is unable to fulfill their duties. Anand has been serving as FIDE’s Deputy President since 2022 and is recognized as India’s first Grandmaster, having achieved this title in 1988.
In the realm of defense, DRDO conducted the successful test of the ‘Kush’ missile on July 23 from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha. This indigenous missile system is designed to engage various aerial threats, including fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and is considered comparable to Russia’s S-400 air defense system. The ‘Kush’ missile is capable of targeting threats at a range of 350 to 400 kilometers.
These developments are crucial for students preparing for government jobs, as they reflect important current affairs in India.